{"id":10649,"date":"2018-02-07T05:00:35","date_gmt":"2018-02-07T10:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sincerelymariedesigns.com\/?p=10649"},"modified":"2018-02-19T17:47:42","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T22:47:42","slug":"our-butcher-block-counter-tops-over-a-year-later","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sincerelymariedesigns.com\/our-butcher-block-counter-tops-over-a-year-later\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Butcher Block Counter Tops Over a Year Later"},"content":{"rendered":"

One of the best things we’ve done in this humble home of ours is when we made the decision to install butcher block counter tops in our kitchen. You guys have been curious because I’ve been getting emails and direct messages with questions about them ever since. I thought today was a good day to share my thoughts on them with you all. Here’s my butcher block counter top review one year later.<\/p>\n

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This post contains affiliate links. You can read my full disclosure here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

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Butcher Block Counter Tops 1 Year Later<\/h2>\n

When we purchased our house the original 80’s laminate counter tops where still there. They were in pretty good shape so we lived with them for a year. I went over all the counter top options, quartz, marble, etc. I loved the thought of marble but I didn’t love the price tag or the thought of having to baby them. I’m not a huge granite fan and after looking at many historical colonial homes I realized that butcher block was very commonly used and I loved the character it added. They don’t require too much care and they’re affordable! Shortly after we moved in we removed the stove top from the island and relocated it. When we did, it left a hole in the island counter top. We thought it was the perfect time to install the butcher block on the island and take it for a test drive. I’m so glad we did because it didn’t take us long to find out that we loved it! Months later we came across an amazing deal and purchased our counter tops a lot sooner than we had planned. You can see our kitchen’s before and the complete makeover here<\/a><\/strong>. It’s been well over a year since we installed them and here’s how it’s worked out.<\/p>\n

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How Have They Held Up?<\/h3>\n

Our counter tops are wood and were purchased from Ikea<\/a>. Our particular counter top has since been discontinued bit they still have a great selection. I’m happy to report so far everything has been great! I can honestly say there has not been any staining, scratching or splitting. They look just as good today as they did the day we installed them. I believe that a lot of that is due to how we sealed them. Before we decided to install butcher block I did hours of research on the sealing process. I wanted to make sure that they were sealed correctly so that we’d have years of use from them.\u00a0 Almost everywhere I read the Waterlox<\/a> <\/strong>was the sealer of choice. It’s a professional grade sealer and cannot be purchased in store but is available online. This stuff doesn’t mess around. It has a very strong smell. We cut and dry fitted our counter tops and moved them to the garage to seal them. The sealing process takes several days and can become a little annoying. The impatient side of me wanted to install them right away but in the long run it would have been a mistake. Take the time to complete the recommended amount of coats. It’s worth the wait friends!<\/p>\n

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Are they high maintenance?<\/h3>\n

One question I get all the time is how do I take of of them? I certainly don’t baby them. I do try to keep spills wiped up. When I’m done doing the dishes we always make sure to take a towel and soak up any standing water that might be beside the sink. Here’s a look at the butcher block by the sink. This area is constantly damp and it’s not showing any trace of water damage.<\/p>\n

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Don’t worry though because they can take a punch. Short story, I left our instant popsicle maker out on the island to thaw and did not realize that it had a large water puddle under it. I tell myself it was a crazy week because that thing sat there for over three days before I realized it. Ah! I thought the counter top would be ruined for sure. I was pleasantly surprised once I dried up the water that the butcher block was perfectly fine. I could believe it! Back to my point, it’s all in how you seal them. Do I cut on them? I do NOT cut on them. That’s what cutting boards are for, friends.<\/p>\n

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When it comes to cleaning them I just use a damp soapy rag. I will use Clorox wipes from time to time but I try not to use any kind of harsh cleaner on them. Just good old soap and water does the trick! Here’s my favorite soaps to use here<\/a><\/strong> and here<\/a><\/strong>. Not only do they smell fantastic, they’re gentle and work great on butcher block.<\/p>\n

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I can honestly say that I love our counter tops. I love the look, price and durability. In a few years we plan on sanding and resealing to keep them in tip top shape. I might even stain them and go a shade darker. For now, they’re just perfect! I couldn’t be more pleased with how they look today. I hope if you’ve been on the fence about butcher block this helps you.<\/p>\n

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